What You Need to Know About Mosquitoes and Keeping Them Away This Summer

Summer is amazing. More daylight, warm nights, campfires, picnics … mosquitoes. Okay, maybe not mosquitoes. According to Lawrence Journal World, mosquitoes ranks at the top of the list for most annoying bugs. The stinging bites and itching hives are enough to send the most down-to-earth person over the edge.

If you are one of the unfortunate souls that seem to attract these blood suckers more often than others, there’s a reason why. The Smithsonian says that mosquitoes are actually more attracted to about 20 percent of the population.

Things that attract the bugs: blood type (type O being the personal preference of most mosquitoes), lactic acid (sweat, higher body temperatures and genetic factors play into this), certain types of skin bacteria, consumption of alcohol, pregnancy, and the color of your clothing (skip the red, black, and dark blue).

You can’t mess with genetics, but in addition to skipping the beer, wearing all white and taking a cold shower, you may be able to repel the bugs without taking a bath in a can of bug spray.

Try this all-natural bug repellent that smells nicer and does a great job of keeping those pesky nibblers away:

In a mason jar, add a few slice of lemon, a few slices of lime, two sprigs of rosemary, and about 7 to 10 drops of Lemon Eucalyptus oil. Fill the rest of the jar with water and place a lit, floating tea candle, on top.

The Lemon Eucalyptus Oil, which is the active ingredient in this bug buster, is considered a natural insect repellent and contains low concentrations of DEET (which can be dangerous in high amounts).

Good Housekeeping recommends using essential oils like lavender, rose geranium, peppermint or citronella mixed with vegetable oil and Aloe Vera gel for a safe repellent you can apply to your skin.

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Summer is amazing. More daylight, warm nights, campfires, picnics ... mosquitoes. Okay, maybe not mosquitoes. According to Lawrence Journal World, mosquitoes ranks at the top of the list for most annoying bugs. The stinging bites and itching hives are enough to send the most down-to-earth person over the edge.
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